The higher education landscape in Jamaica consists of public and private universities, colleges, vocational institutes, and professional schools. The largest institution is the regional University of the West Indies, which has campuses in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. There are over 50 degree-granting institutions, 42 of which are regulated by the University Council of Jamaica. Institutions include public, private religious-run, and corporate providers. Quality assurance bodies like the University Council ensure standards are maintained across institutions and qualifications are comparable internationally.

1. HIGHER EDUCATION
LANDSCAPE IN JAMAICA
Karen Isaacs

2. Background
• The higher education landscape in Jamaica is a mixture
of private and public universities, colleges, technical and
vocational institutes and colleges, and professional
schools.
• The levels of training range from certificates and diplomas
to associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.
• The largest institution of higher learning in Jamaica is the
regional university – the University of the West Indies
(UWI)

3. Background
• Main Provider – UWI
• Established as the University College of the
West Indies – 1948
• Upgraded to an independent university – 1963
• Regional university with campuses in Jamaica,
Barbados and Trinidad
• Enrollment: 1948 – 33 and in 2012 – 48, 000
• Graduates: 1952 – 11 and in 2012 – 9, 804

4. Background
• There are over 50 degree-granting institutions in the
higher education landscape
• 42 of which are registered with the University
Council of Jamaica – the regulatory body that seeks
to assure that educational standards are maintained
.
• These institutions include one regional university,
two national universities, three national university
colleges, nine teacher training colleges, 10
community colleges, five theological colleges, and
nine off-shore universities

5. Providers
• Tertiary institutions can be categorized generally as
private and public providers. However, the market forces
in the Jamaican education system has interacted in such
a way that the differences between public and private, and
for-profit private and non-profit private providers are
becoming increasingly blurred.

6. Public Providers:
Traditional public providers University of the West Indies and the
University of Technology
Non-traditional public provider Vocational Training Development
Institute (VTDI) providing Bachelors of
Education in TVET and a Diploma
programme in Education and Training
Degree-granting institution which
caters to government workers
Management Institute of National
Development (MIND)
Teachers colleges Moneague College and College of
Agriculture, Science, and Education
(CASE).

7. Private Providers
Institutions mainly operated by religious
bodies
Northern Caribbean University run by
the Seventh Day Adventist Church
Jamaica Theological Seminary owned
and run by the Missionary Church, and
Caribbean Graduate School of
Theology (CGST)
Virtual Bodies UWI Open Campus
Corporate higher education institutions National Commercial Bank Training
Institute that provides education and
training for its employees
Owned by private entities but partially
funded by the government
Nine teacher training institutions and
eight community colleges
Off-Shore Branch campus: Central Connecticut
State University and Temple University

8. Regulatory Framework
• There are both external and internal Quality Assurance
bodies to be found in the Jamaican higher education
landscape
• External - The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ)
• Internal – National Council on Technical Vocational
Training (NCTVET), and
• The Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ)

9. Regulatory Framework
• UCJ - The UCJ evaluates and registers all institutions of
higher education and conducts accreditation exercises for
the programs of both local and foreign institutions. The
standards developed by the UCJ ensure the transferability
of credits to other institutions of higher learning, both
locally and internationally

10. Regulatory Framework
• The UCJ is a member of the Caribbean Area Network for
Quality network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary
Education (CANQATE), which seeks to facilitate
collaboration among institutions in the promotion of quality
assurance in the delivery of higher education in the
Caribbean.
• UCJ is also represented on the Board of the International
Network of Quality Assurance Agencies In Higher
Education (INQAAHE)

11. Regulatory Framework
• NCTVET – ensures instructors who are certified to
operate/practice in the TVET system are functioning
based on four competencies
• Technical or Occupational
• Academic
• Pedagogical or Professional
• Personal qualities or Attitudinal
• CCCJ – supervise and coordinate the work of Community
Colleges based on set standards

12. Qualifications Framework
• The tertiary qualifications framework (TQF) is framework
for regulating the diversity of qualifications in the tertiary
education and training system in Jamaica
• National Qualification Framework – comprising eight (8)
levels - was formulated to streamline the award of training
outcomes, from certificates to doctoral degrees

13. Qualifications Framework
Level National Qualifications Framework of Jamaica (NQFJ)
1 Access I, Access II and Certificate I
2 Certificate II
3 Diploma and Advanced Certificate
4 Associate Degree
5 Bachelor Degree
6 Post Graduate Diploma and Certificate
7 Masters degree
8 Doctoral Degree

14. Qualifications Comparison
L European Qualifications
Framework
L National
Qualifications
Framework Of
Jamaica
L Trans National
Qualifications
Framework
L Caricom
Qualifications
Framework
8 Doctoral Degree, City &
Guilds Senior Award
Fellowship
8 Doctoral Degree 10 Doctoral Degree 10 Doctoral Degree
7 Masters Degree 7 Masters Degree 9 Masters Degree 9 Masters Degree
6
Bachelor Degree with
Honours
Professional
6 Post Graduate Diploma
Post Graduate
Certificate
8 Post Graduate, Diploma,
Post Graduate Certificate
Bachelor Degree With
Honours
8 Post Graduate Diploma
5 Bachelor Degree
5 Bachelor Degree 7 Bachelor Degree
Graduate Diploma
Graduate Certificate
7 Bachelor Degree
4 Higher Diploma
4 Associate Degree 6 Advanced/Higher
Diploma
Associate Degree
Foundation Degree
6
Associate Degree
3 Diploma, Advanced
Certificate
5 Diploma 5 Diploma
3 Advanced Certificate 2 Certificate II 4 Advanced Certificate 4 Advanced Certificate
2 Junior Certificate 1 Certificate I 3 Certificate III 3 Certificate III
1 Lower Secondary Access II 2 Certificate II 2 Certificate II
Access I 1 Certificate I 1 Certificate 1

15. Observations
• Jamaica, like other countries have experience a shift from
predominantly public to plethora of private offerings of
higher education
• With the implementation of regulatory and qualification
frameworks the Jamaican higher education system is
comparable worldwide

16. Conclusion
• The higher education landscape in Jamaica is a mixture
of private and public institutions
• This diverse composite of tertiary institutions and
programmes in Jamaica means that there is also a
plethora of qualifications differing in standards, meaning
and duration of study
• There is need for both internal and external quality
assurance agencies to regulate quality and standards

17. Reference
• Downes, A. S. (2013). Financing Tertiary Education in the Caribbean.
• Evans, H., & Burke, O. (2006). National Report on Higher Education in
Jamaica.
• The Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica, 2015. Retrieved from
http://www.cccj.edu.jm/index.php/about-us
• The Daily Gleaner, July 15, 2012. Public-Private Partnership Critical to
Higher Education, Herbert J. Thompson.
• The Tertiary Qualification Framework, 2016, The University Council of
Jamaica
• World TVET Database: Jamaica, August, 2012, UNESCO-UNEVOC
International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and
Training